FLAP - call for projects is open
By: Chris Nobach, Federal Aid Agreement & Special Programs Engineer
The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will be accepting Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) applications in order to develop a multi-year program of projects for federal Fiscal Years (FY) 2027 through FY 2029. All final project approvals will be contingent upon the availability of funds in the year for which they are being requested.
The call for projects application period opens May 30, 2025, and runs through August 29, 2025. Please explore the FLAP website located at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/programs-access and follow the links to the state webpage to download the application, review the applicant webinar, FAQ’s and tips for preparing a good application. Applications should be submitted via email to EFL.planning@dot.gov by the end of the day (11:59 PM) on August 29, 2025, to be considered. If required, applications via mail, Fedex, UPS etc. or fax will also be accepted.
An estimated total of $5.1million will be available for programming in Minnesota.
What is the purpose of FLAP?
The purpose of the FLAP is to provide safe and adequate transportation access to and through federal lands for visitors, recreationists, and resource users. The FLAP supplements state and local resources for public roads, transit systems, and other transportation facilities, with an emphasis on high-use recreation sites and economic generators.
Where can projects be located?
Proposed projects or studies must be associated with a public highway, road, bridge, trail or transit system that is located on, is adjacent to, or provides access to federal lands for which the transportation facility’s title or maintenance responsibility is vested with a state, county, city, township, tribal, municipal, or other local government entity.
What types of applications will be considered?
Applications will be accepted for the following:
- Capital Improvements - These proposals include rehabilitation, restoration, construction, and reconstruction of roads, bridges, multiuse trails, and other long-term transportation system asset improvements. This includes improvements, such as: safety improvements, widening, realignments, surfacing, culverts, signing, guardrail, walls and associated roadway appurtenances.
- Enhancements - These proposals are road and trail related improvements, such as: interpretative signing, kiosks, viewpoints, adjacent vehicular parking areas, roadside rest areas (including sanitary and water facilities), provisions for pedestrians and bicycles, acquisition of scenic easement and scenic or historic sites, trailheads, trails, and improvements that improve public safety and reduce vehicle-wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity.
- Surface Preservation - These proposals include surface preservation of roads, trails, and adjacent vehicular parking areas. They include chip sealing, crack sealing, and aggregate courses. FLAP funds are not intended for routine maintenance projects (e.g., potholes, mowing, snow removal, same type guardrail replacement, etc.).
- Transit -These proposals include construction of transit facilities (e.g. ferry docks, helipads, boat ramps) and limited duration operation/maintenance of transit services and facilities (including vehicles) and the purchase of transit vehicles.
- Planning - These proposals include engineering feasibility studies, corridor management planning, bicycle/pedestrian planning and alternative transportation system planning that will provide valuable information for future FLAP proposals.
- Research - These proposals include evaluating solutions that enhance access, safety or sustainability. They address issues such as wildlife-vehicle collision avoidance measures, context sensitive roadside safety features, and congestion management strategies.
Who may apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, tribal or city government agencies that own or have maintenance responsibility of the transportation facility or must supply a letter from the facility owner/maintainer indicating the application is being submitted on their behalf. Project applications must be sponsored and/or supported by the appropriate Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA) unit whose access would be enhanced by the proposed action.
This acknowledgement of sponsorship and support must be demonstrated by an application signature and/or letter of support attached to the application from an appropriate representative of the benefitting FLMA unit. Early coordination between the appropriate FLMA and state/county/local/tribal government is encouraged to ensure adequate time for thorough review and input before the submittal due date. All projects must be submitted using the EFLHD Access Program Application form.
Are matching funds required?
As a result of legislative action, the program no longer requires any matching funds. Project award values represent 100 percent federal funding. Applicants may also provide additional funds beyond the requested amount of FLAP funds to contribute to the project. Because of the limited amount of FLAP funding available in each state in any given federal fiscal year, proposals will receive additional consideration when funding is leveraged from other sources.
How would the projects be delivered?
On the application form you will select from EFLHD, state DOT or local public agency, or “other” as the preferred delivery organization. EFLHD welcomes the opportunity to provide “cradle to grave” project delivery services under this program. This approach allows state or local resources to be utilized on their other priorities.
State DOTs are eligible to deliver their own projects. Local agencies requesting to deliver their own project must be certified by the state DOT or demonstrate prior experience with the use of federal transportation funds (Title 23) to deliver projects in compliance with FHWA regulations. Additional information regarding local agency project delivery roles and responsibilities may be found at the following website at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials/stateresources.cfm.
If you would like to request EFLHD to deliver your project, please coordinate with EFLHD at a minimum of 30 days prior to the closing of the call for projects to request development of an independent project cost estimate by EFLHD staff. Contact Lewis Grimm, EFLHD Planning Team Leader, 703-404-6289 or at lewis.grimm@dot.gov.
The range of potential EFLHD delivered services includes: planning/feasibility studies, preliminary and final engineering design, federal environmental compliance, construction contract advertisement, construction contract administration, construction engineering and inspection, and federal stewardship and oversight.
However, the lead agency designation and participating agencies’ roles and responsibilities will be considered during both the initial application evaluation and the project agreement development phases. Decisions regarding lead and participating agency roles will be based on the type of project, project complexity, and how the work is proposed to be delivered.
If the applicant would like to request the option of EFLHD delivery, please contact Lewis Grimm.
Requests for EFLHD delivery must be submitted no less than 30 days prior to the closing date of the call for projects period to allow time for the EFLHD independent government cost estimate for the provision of these requested services to be developed. Applications (minus the estimated project budget values) will still need to be submitted to EFLHD by the applicant prior to the closing date of the call for projects.
What if I have questions?
You are welcome to contact any of the FLAP Programming Decisions Committee members for the state of Minnesota with your questions using the contact information contained in the website (start with Chris Nobach at christopher.nobach@state.mn.us). Additionally, questions about project eligibility or the EFLHD application process can be directed to Lewis Grimm or Richelle Ellis, FHWA/EFLHD. Also please find on the website a FAQ document and FLAP tip Sheet with suggested factors to be considered for submitting a good application.
Thank you for your interest in the FLAP program. We look forward to working with you in developing a multi-year program of projects for the period of FY2027 - FY2029.